L.A. Times’ Bill Plaschke on Westmont soccer & the Tea Fire

Bill Plaschke, the L.A. Times’ award-winning sports columnist, attended Westmont’s 2-0 win over Azusa Pacific in the GSAC Championship game on Monday just days after the Tea Fire burned down the house of head coach Dave Wolf and housing for several players.

His column from the L.A. Times begins:

Harrison Hill kicked through the smoke of uncertainty, the soot of fear, finding the back of the net with a solid right foot on a spotless white ball.

He kicked the first goal, the only goal his Westmont College team would need, then he turned and ran.

He ran past the teammate who, at this moment, owned only the uniform on his back.

He ran past a teammate who had prepared for the game by searching Craigslist for a place to sleep.

He ran off the field, under the covered bench area, and into the arms of one who lost more than any of them.

In last week’s Montecito fire, the home of Westmont Coach Dave Wolf burned to the ground.

Hill hugged his teary-eyed teacher and lifted him to the sky.

“This is the first brick in your new house,” he whispered.

Continue reading his emotional column: CLICK HERE